NewsFlash »

Perifosine Receives “Orphan Medicinal Product Designation” In Europe For Myeloma – On March 1, Aeterna Zentaris announced that it received a positive opinion for orphan medicinal product designation for perifosine for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Perifosine is currently being studied in a Phase 3 trial for myeloma. Orphan medicinal product designation, similar to orphan drug status in the U.S., encourages development of drugs for rare medical conditions. The status gives the drug’s developer assistance with the application for the approval of the drug, waived application fees, and up to ten years of market exclusivity in Europe, if approved for treatment. Perifosine has already been granted orphan drug status in the U.S. For more information, please see the press release on the Æterna Zentaris Web site.

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics To Receive Patent For ICT-69 – On March 2, ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, a biotechnology company that is developing immune-based therapies for cancer treatment, announced that it received a Notice of Allowance on its patent application for ICT-69, a monoclonal antibody that targets multiple myeloma and ovarian cancers. Generally, this notification means that a patent will be issued once the issue fee is paid. For more information, see the ImmunoCellular Therapeutics Web site.

Myeloma Awareness Month Teleconference Series – There are three more teleconferences in the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) teleconference series celebrating March as Myeloma Awareness Month. Patients, family members, caregivers, and health care professionals are welcome to join. The teleconferences provide up-to-date information regarding multiple myeloma and are held each Friday during March at 7 p.m. EST. Each teleconference will include an hour-long presentation followed by a 30-minute Q&A session on education (March 12), research (March 19), and advocacy (March 26). Please see the IMF Web site for more information.

Living With Myeloma Conference – The Arizona Myeloma Network is hosting its fourth annual “Living With Myeloma” conference on March 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Scottsdale Conference Center. Physicians and researchers, including Dr. Robert Kyle, Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, will be giving invited talks. Patients, family members, caregivers, physicians, researchers, and health care providers interested in myeloma are invited. The conference, including a continental breakfast and hot lunch, is free. Heath care professionals may receive 4.5 continuing medical education credits for attending. Space is limited for the conference, and those interested in attending are urged to register quickly. For registration and more information, visit the Arizona Myeloma Network Web Site.

For a more detailed listing of myeloma related events, please check the Myeloma Beacon Events Calendar.

NewsFlash »

Lisa Ray Diagnosed With Multiple Myeloma – Bollywood star Lisa Ray, age 37, revealed on her blog on September 8 that she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma on June 23. In Ray’s blog, The Yellow Diaries, she shares her personal journey facing myeloma. For more information, please see the India-server article.

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics Enters Research And License Option Agreement With Roche Group – On September 9, ImmunoCellular Therapeutics entered into a research and license agreement for its ICT-69 monoclonal antibody with Roche, a leading research based health care group. Roche will research ICT-69’s potential to target human multiple myeloma and ovarian cancer cells. For more information, please visit the ImmunoCellular press release.